Hair curler



- Sept. 22, 1925.

w. w. DODGE. JR

HAIR CURLER Filed April 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Curling form will:ow-spring f0 clamp luzir.

Sept. 22, 1925.

w. w. noose, JR

HAIR CURLER Filed April 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 22,1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAIR .CURLER.

AppIiation filed .April 18, 1923. Serial No. 632,936.

To all 107mm it may concern.-

v Be it known that I, VVIL'LIAM Donors, J11, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State oiConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HairCurlers, oi? which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toilet devices, and particularly to an outfitfor use in curling hair.

The object of the invention is to simplify manipulation, eliminate anypossibility tot burning the hair, and shorten the timenecessary tocomplete the curling operation.

Heretotore it has been proposed to Wrap the hair on tubes havinghaireretaining means, and then insert a heated rod into successive tubesto heat the tubes. This method is unsatisfactory for various rea sons.The crude heating means used leads to overheating the rods and hence toburning the hair; the time consumed in heating the tubes one by one isunduly long; the absence of any means to retain the rod in the tube,requires (the user to hold the rod in the hand for long periods so thatthe use of the device is tiring and time consuming.

Also, it has been proposed to KVlDCl the hair on a series of forms, orshells, having electrical heating elements permanently enclosed in them,the Winding of the hair being done While the forms are cold, and theforms being thereafter heated simultaneously by passing a currentthrough all. Such devices have included permanent electricalconnectionsto each form, and these make manipulation difficult, while the necessityof ren'laining connected to an electric fixture during the heatingperiod involves an annoying Waste of time.

In the present invention, I make use of tubes having hair-retaining,bovvs, or clips, and provide a heatingsrod for each tube, the tube androd being so contrived that the rod may be retained in the tube Withoutbeing held by the user. Furthermore, I provide a heater which sustainsand heats all the rods at once, and heats them to a definite predetermiiied safe temperature. Burning of the hair is thus precludedJ Much timeis savcdby proceedingaccording to the following general method: the rodsare all inserted in ,the heater and the heater is turned on. lvhile the:rods are heating, the user inds her hair onto the various tubes andfastens it With the bows or clips. By the time the Winding operation iscompleted, the rods Will be hot, so that they are then Withdrawnsuccessively from the heater, insert-ed into, and Zixed in,corresponding tubes. The use-r is then free to continue dressing,awaitinga convenient opportunity to remove therods and tubes.

The above general principle may be e?" bodied in various specificallyditl erent structures, but I prefer the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, Which disclose certain ancillary structuralfeatures also a part of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device;

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section showingthree rods in place in theheater, one of said rods being illustrated in section;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3' 3 of Figure 2;

Figured is a section on the line &4- oi? Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective .viewot one of the two sections Which make upthe housing of the heater;

Figure 6 is aperspectiveview of a safety lug used. to require thedisconnection ofthe heater before the heated rods can be Withdrawn;

Figure 7 is a view partlyin elevation and partly in section of oneof thehollow hair curling forms;

Figure 8 is a view partly in ,longitudnal section andpartly in elevationshowing one of the heater rods.

The device rests on a base 11, which is "formed with two upstandingbrackets 12 and 13, and Which is provided with a tray, or pocket, 14 toreceive the hair curlingforms when not in use,

The housing of the heater is made of two substantially identicalsections 16 and 17 whose construction and mode or connection will bemore fully disclosed hereafter. When assembled, the two "ections 16 andconjointly provide two trunnions 18 and 15), which turn in pockets, orbearings 21) and 21 formed to receive them at the upper extremities ofthe members 12 and 13.

The sections 16 and 17 ot' the heater housing are, as stated,substantially identical and indeed may be i'nolded in the smold. Theydiffer chiefly in the presence or absence of certain metallic inserts,used to connect and support resistance wires and circuit wires formingpart oi the heater structure.

The particular heater chosen -for illusstration is one designed to heatlive rods, but any desired number might be heated by obviousmodification of form.

The two housing sections 16 and 17, when assembled, cooperate to providelive substantially cylindrical vertical chambers 22, each of which isalined at its lower end with a smaller passageway 28, through which therod to be heated is inserted. At the side of each pasageway 23 is acylindrical recess 24, which is designed to receive a coil spring 25.The recess 21 is so positioned relatively to the passageway he) ulliithe spring 25 projects into the passageway and serves to engage aninserted rod :irictionally and thus retain the rod in position. The modeof such engagement is clearly shown in Figure Two pockets 2% are shownlocated on opposite sides oi the passageway 23, leading to the middleone of the five heating chambers 22. One of these is left empty and thepurpose of molding two is merely to make the two housing sectionssymmetrical with resp ct to their vertical center line so that thesections 16 and 17 may be molded in the same mold.

The upper ends of the heater pockets all communicate with a narrow slot26 intended to discharge convection currents of heated air whosefunction is to prevent overheating of the device, as will be hereaftermore fully explained.

Molded into the rear section 16 of the heater housing are two studs, orpins 27 and 28, which serve as means tor connectine; the electric cable.The pin 2'? is: connected by a binding screw 29 to an electric conductor30, which lies in a groove 31, molded in the section 16. This grooveextends upward at the left side and then across the top of the section16 to the upper righthand corner of the section 16 where a square recess32 coinnuinicating with the groove 31 is provided.

Loosely mounted in the recess 32 a square block provided with a tappedhole to receive the binding screw 34:. The heating element consists oi acontinuous length of suitable resistance wire wound in no with the toclear the heads 01 the binding screws 29 and 56 (see Figures 0 and 4t).Similarly, the square recess 38 in section 16 is functionless, but thesimilar recess in. the section 1? aflt'ords clearance for the head ofthe binding screw 3-1.

The section 17, like the section 16, is provided with a groove 81., butthat groove is without function in that section. liifi 't for thepresence or absence oi the studs 27 and 28, the sections 16 and 17 areabsolute duplicates and it is a simple matter so to design the mold thatthe studs 27 and 28 may be molded in or omitted at will. T lletwosections are connected together at their tops by two bolts 39, whosenuts and heads are countcrsimk and then sealed over with plasticmaterial after the device is assembled. The two sections are connectedat their bottoms by two screws 1.0, which are inserted from the back andwhose ends are threaded into the handle ll.

The current is brought to the device through an electric cable 42,provided with a connector of familiar form. ht mounted on the bracket 12is so positioned as to require the disconnection oi the connector it theheater is swung from the vertical position shown in the drawings. Thepurpose of so swinging it will be described hereafter.

The hair curling forms may be varied in their shape and dimensions, butfor purposes of illustration are shown as simple tubular members 15,closed at one end and 1 open at the other.

A bow spring 46 is hinged to each form at ii", this hinge 'ire'terablybeing located at the open end of the form. The opposite,

The opposite end The lu g I or free end of the bow spring may be engagedby a bail or loop 4L8, which is pivoted to the form a5, near theopposite end. The bow spring 416 is curved longitudinally so as topresent its convex side toward the form 15. This insures tight clampingof any hair wound onto the form, regardless oi? the amount of hair, andthe flexure of the spring -16 will take care of large masses of hairwhen required.

The form. is provided with one or more (two are shown) inwardlyprojecting); bosses 4-9, designed to engage the threaded end 50 ot' arod 51. In the preferred form of the device this red is tubular, but incertain cases a solid rod may be us (1.

The rod 51 is preferably formed of a heat resisting glass, such as thatcommonly used for cooking utensils, or may be made of pure fused silica.Each rod is provided with an enlarged handle portion 52, which may bemade of any heat insulating material, including glass, in fact; incertain cases the handle portion 52 may be molded intogrally with therod 51. I contemplate, however, molding the sections 16 and 17 ofspecially tinted heat resisting plastics and in such cases it willsometimes prove desirable in order to carry out a special color scheme,to make the handle portion 52 oil? some special material. Hence, Iillustrate this handle portion as termed separately from the rod 51 forthe purpose of in l," eating the possibility of so constructing it.

To heat the rods 51, they are inserted through the passageways 23 sothat their ends extend within the heating coils In order to establishelectrical connections to the heating coil, the housing sections 16 and17 must first be swung to vertical position. This brings the handle endsof the rods 51 into contact with the series of how springs 53 mounted onthe base 11, the springs being so positioned that they engage the rodswith out closing the bores thereof. Consequently, when the rods 51 areheated, there is a tendency to induce an upward draft through thevarious tubular rods 51 and thence to the atn'iosphere, through the slot26. This arrangement is adopted to preclude overheating of the rods.

The complete outfit consists of the heater with one rod for each heatingcompartment in the heater, and one hair curling form for each such rod,the purpose being to heat all the rods at once and to insert themsubstantially at the same time into the forms which have previously beenWound into the hair. The general mode of operation is astollows:

The heater is swung to horizontal position and the rods 51 are insertedthrough the openings 23. The heater is then swung to vertical positionand it any rod 51 has not been completely inserted, it will be forcedhome by the corresponding spring lVhen the heater is in verticalposition, the connector 43 may he slipped onto the studs 27 and 28.While the connection continues, the coils acting as resistance heaterswill raise the temperature of the rods 51, and as the ten'iperaturerises the increasing air circulation will have a constantlyincreasingopposing tendency.

By carefully noportioning the coils 35, it is possible to limit thetemperature to which the rods 51 can be heated, because the hotter therods become, the more active is the circulation of the air. It closerregulation is necessary, various means such as thermostats, whoseoperation is well under stood, might be adopted and while I donotconsider their use necessary, and hence do not illustrate anythermostat, I do not mean to imply their necessary exclusion.

While the rods are. being heated, the user winds her hair onto the formsand clamps it in place by means of the bow springs 46, and bails 418. Bythe time that this operation has been completed, the rods 51 will be.sufliciently heated. The heater is then. swung to horizontal positionand it the connection 13 has not been removed, it will be automaticallydisconnected by the act of swinging the heater on its trunnions. Theheated rods are now withdrawn from the heater and are inserted in thecorre sponding forms, being turned slightly so as to engage the threads50 with the bosses 4-9 and thus retain the rods within the forms. Theuser is now free to give her attention to other matters, awaiting aconvenient opportunity to remove the rods and the forms from the hair.

The purpose in arranging the device so that the rods stand handle enddown during the heating operation, is to keep these handles relativelycool. I am aware, however, that the use of tubular rod-s is notabsolutely essential, that solid rods can be used, and in such case theheater might assume various specifically different forms which willreadily suggest themselves. Conequently, while I prefer the constructionillustrated, I do not limit myself thereto, except to the extentspecified in the claims. I recognize also that the form -15 issusceptible of being embodied in various different shapes, dependentupon the desired efi'ect.

ii hat is claimed is:

1. In a hair curling device, the combina tion of a hollow form adaptedto have hair wound thereon; a releasable clamping member serving toclamp and retain hair wound on said form; a rod insertable into saidform, said rod being adapted to be heated and, when heated, to heat saidform; and releasable means for retaining said rod in said form.

2 In a hair curling device, the combination of a hollow form adapted tohave hair wound thereon; a bow spring hinged at one end near one end051' said form; releasable means for connecting the free end of saidspring with said form, whereby the spring serves to retain the hair onthe form; a rod insertable into said form, said rod being adapted to beheated and, when heated, to heat said form; and releasable means forretaining said rod in said form.

In a hair curling device, the combination of a hollow form adapted tohave hair wound thereon; a bow spring hinged at one end near one end ofsaid form; releasable means for connecting the free end of said springwith said form, whereby the spring serves to retain the. hair on theform; a heating element for said form, said heating element comprising aglass rod insertable into the form and a heat insulating handle; andreleasable means for retaining said rod in said form.

4. An outfit for curling hair, comprising in combination a plurality offorms, each adapted to have hair wound thereon, and each provided withretaining means for clamping the hair; a plurality of rods, one for eachof said forms, said rods being insertable into the forms; releasablemeans for retaining said rods in said forms; and a heating deviceconstructed and arranged to sustain and heat said rods simultaneouslywhile withdrawn from said forms.

5. An outfit for curling hair, comprising in combination a plurality ofhollow tt'orms, each adapted to have hair Wound thereon, and eachprovided with retaining means for clamping the hair; a plurality ofheating members, one for each form, each such member including a glassrod insertable into the form and a. heat insulating handle member;releasable means for retaining said rods in said forms; and a heatingdevice constructed and arranged to sustain and heat said rodssimultaneously while withdrawn from said forms.

6. An outfit for curling hair, comprising in combination a plurality ofhollow forms, each adapted to have hair wound thereon, and each providedwith retaining means for clamping the hair; a plurality of rods, one foreach of said forms, said rods being insertable into the forms;releasable means for retaining said rods in said forms; and an electricheater comprising a plurality of electric resistance heating coils, onefor each rod, into which the rods are simultaneously insertable whenwithdrawn from the forms.

7. An outfit for curling hair, comprising in combination a plurality ofhollow forms, each adapted to have hair wound thereon, and each providedwith retaining means for clamping the hair; a plurality of heatingmembers, one for each form, each such member including a glass rodinsertable into the form and a heat insulating handle member; releasablemeans for retaining said rods in said forms and an electric heatercomprising a plurality of electric resistance heating coils, one foreach rod, into which the rods are simultanously insertable when withdrawn from the forms, and means serving to protect the handles of saidrods "from the heating effect of said coils.

8. A heating member for tubular hair curlers and the like comprising arod and a handle formed of glass.

9. In a hair curling device, the combination of a hollow form aboutwhich the hair is wound; an electric resistance heating coil separatefrom and independent of the form; and a heat-conveying rod of dielectricmateria-l insertable alternately into said heating coil and into saidform.

10. A heat conveying member adapted to be heated by an uninsulatedelectric resistance coil and, when so heated, to be inserted in a haircurling tube, comprising a rod of heat resisting dielectric material.

11. I11 a hair curling device, the combination of a heat absorbingelement having an air passage; and a heating device into which saidelement may be inserted to absorb heat, the parts being so constructedand arranged that an air current is induced through said passage as saidelement is heated.

12. In a hair curling device, the cone bination of a heat absorbingelement having a handle and an air passage leading through said handleand a heating device into which said element may be inserted, the partsbeing so constructed and arranged that a cooling air current is inducedthrough said handle during the heating operation.

13. In a hair curling device the combination of a heat absorbing elementhaving a handle and an air passage leading through said handle andthrough the body of said element; and a heating device into which saidelement may be inserted, the parts being so constructed and arrangedthat an air current is induced through said handle and the body of saidelement during the heating operation.

let. In a hair curling device, the combination oi a heat absorbingelement; an electrical heating device into which said element isinsertable, said device being designed to develop heat ata definitelimited rate; and. means for passing a cooling air current in contactwith said element at a rate which varies with the temperature of theelement.

15. In a hair curling device, the combina tion of a tubular heatabsorbing element having a handle at one end; and a heating device intowhich said element is insertable, said heating device being constructedand arranged to sustain the heat absorbing ele ment in a substantiallyvertical position with the handle end down and to permit the passage ofan induced cooling air current through the handle and thence throughsaid element.

16. I11 a hair curling device, the combination of a tubular heatabsorbing element, having a handle at one end; an electrical heatingdevice into which said element is insertable; and a support in whichsaid heat ing device is movable from an inactive posi' tion in which theelement may be readily in serted and withdrawn and a heating position inwhich the heat absorbing elementcannot be withdrawn and is held in asubstantially vertical posit-ion with the handle end down.

17. In a hair curling device, the combination of a tubular heatabsorbing element, having a handle at one end; an electrical heatingdevice into Which said element is insertable; a support in which saidheating device is movable from an inactive position in which the elementmay be readily insei'ted and Withdrawn and a heating position in Whichthe heat absorbing element cannot be Withdrawn and is held in asubstantially vertical position With the handle end down; andmeans-controlled by the position of said heating device, and serving topreclude the supply of heating current thereto except in said activeposition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM W. DODGE JR.

